How to Prevent White Spot on Mustard Green Leaves

Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) are annual plants grown in gardens for their nutritious, edible leaves. Mustard is a cool-season crop that thrives in any ordinary garden soil and is sown from early spring to August for summer and fall harvesting; it can be sown in fall for an early spring crop. Although mustard greens are simple to grow and do not have many problems, they are susceptible to fungal diseases, such as white spot, which is persistent in moist conditions. Fortunately, taking certain measures can help prevent white spot.

1

Plant mustard greens in well-draining soil, or amend the soil by adding a 3- to 6-inch-thick layer of compost over the planting area and using a digging fork to turn the compost into the soil. Mustard greens thrive in rich, moist soil, but poor draining soil can encourage fungal diseases, including white spot.

2

Keep weeds suppressed around the mustard green plants. Weeds can harbor diseases that are spread to desired plants through wind and rain.

3

Avoid overhead irrigation. It can encourage fungal disease. Water plants at the base of the stems, preventing moisture from contacting mustard leaves.

4

Follow a two- to three-year crop rotation plan when growing mustard greens and other non-cruciferous plants. This procedure includes changing the layout of the garden each season so that members of the Brassica family grow in only a certain area once every two to three years.

About the Author

Based in Indiana, Molly Allman holds a B.A. in professional writing. She works as both a writer and author and enjoys writing articles on many different topics. She specializes in topics concerning health, crafts, family and lifestyles. Her fiction writing appears in "Bewildering Stories," "The Other Herald" and "Spectacular Speculations."